BA hikes surcharge again
British Airways is to increase its fuel surcharge for the fifth time on long haul flights following the ecslating cost of oil.
Singapore Airlines has also raised its surcharge.
From Monday, BA will charge £30 per sector – £60 for a return trip – up from £24 per sector. Short haul flights will remain unchanged at £8 per sector, £16 on a return journey.
BA commercial director Martin George insisted the airline had no choice but to pass the rising cost of fuel onto customers after the price of oil hit $70 a barrel in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
“Our fuel costs remain a real burden,” he said. “Our fuel bill of around £1.6 billion is now our second largest costs after employee costs. The latest fuel surcharge is regrettable but we have little choice but to pass some of our extra costs onto our customers. It now costs 400% more than it did in December 2001 to fill a plane.”
He argued it was better to be upfront about the charges rather than hiding the costs by raising fares behind the scenes “like some other airlines do.”
BA first introduced fuel surcharges back in May 2004 when a £5 levy was introduced for short and long haul flights. In August it increased to £12 for a return flight, in October to £20, in March this year to £32 and June to £48.
Singapore meanwhile said it would increase its surcharge by $10 to $100 for a return flight.
Report by Steve Jones
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